Wachovia Cycling Series announces 23 men's teams

The organisers of the USA's Wachovia Cycling Series have announced that a record 23 teams will be in Philadelphia for the 2005 Wachovia Cycling Series and USPRO Championship. 200 riders will be competing in what will be the largest field in the 21 year history of the race.

16 American professional teams and seven international teams will take part, including six ProTour teams: Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, Davitamon-Lotto, Team CSC, Lampre-Caffita, Liquigas-Bianchi, Saunier Duval-Prodir. In addition, the teams list will include Advantage Benefits-Endeavour, Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, HealthNet p/b Maxxis Jelly Belly-Pool Gel, Jittery Joe’s Kalahari, Kodak Easy Share Sierra Nevada, McGuire-Langdale, MG-XPOWER/Litespeed, Monex, Navigators Insurance, Nerac.com, SeaSilver, Subway, Symmetrics, Team Snow Valley, TIAA-CREF and Webcor Builders.

The Wachovia series starts with the Wachovia Lancaster race on Tuesday, May 31, followed by the Wachovia Trenton race on Thursday, June 2. The series concludes on Sunday, June 5 with the 21st Annual Wachovia USPRO Championship in Philadelphia, that will crown the 2005 USPRO Champion.

The Wachovia USPRO Championship covers 156 miles (250 km) on a 14.4-mile loop through Philadelphia. The race starts on The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near the Philadelphia Art Museum steps. Riders will follow Kelly Drive out towards Manayunk and up the 17 per cent incline of the "Manayunk Wall" before descending through Roxborough for their return trip to Center City. Then, they will ride through Strawberry Meadows and Lemon Hill before going around Eakins Oval and through the Start-Finish area.